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“I’m able to embrace every struggle that I’ve had with a spirit of gratitude.”: Zach Anner at WDS

Later this month we’ll release the first round of tickets for WDS 2017, a week-long gathering of creative, remarkable people—taking place next summer in beautiful Portland, Oregon.

But first, we’re rolling out a series of speaker videos from the 2016 event. Zach Anner is the author of the comedic memoir If at Birth You Don’t Succeed. He is an award-winning comedian, show host, and public speaker who won his own travel show on the Oprah Winfrey Network called “Rollin’ With Zach.” He’s also hosted several web series on his YouTube channel, garnering over 13 million hits. Zach lives in Buffalo, NY and Austin, TX, and spends most of his spare time in his underwear, thinking about how he can change the world.

Check out the video to hear his message about why we should do everything in life with compassion and love.

“Every success that I’ve had has at least been in part facilitated by other people. So I’m able to embrace every struggle that I’ve had with a spirit of gratitude. You are all here because you are dreamers and doers, and I’m here to remind you of some of those people who have made those dreams possible.”

“All of us have people in our lives that make sure our limitations don’t derail our dreams. So what I want you to do, before you go out and change the world, is to take a moment and call some of the people that have changed yours.”

“We have a very short amount of time on the Earth and it is our responsibility to try and use that time to make a legacy and an impact. I don’t mind if anybody fails, or if anybody screws up, but if you have that voice in your head that’s telling you to do something, at least engage with that, and make it the best effort to make a mark on the world, and do it with compassion and love.”

“Laughter is the best tool to get over almost any hardship that you’re facing. I don’t understand how people who aren’t funny get through life.”

Want to know more about WDS and how you can join us?

Every summer, thousands of people travel from all over the world to Portland, Oregon for this immersive experience in life, work, and travel. With main-stage keynote speakers, hundreds of attendee-led meetups, more than a dozen workshops known as “Academies,” two big parties, and a ridiculous number of new friends high-fiving you on street corners, it’s a truly engaging and life-changing experience.

Tickets usually sell out far in advance of the actual event. If you’d like to come, don’t hesitate!

About Chris Guillebeau

Welcome to The Art of Non-Conformity, a home for remarkable people of all kinds. If you've ever felt like there must be more to life, this site is for you. I’m Chris Guillebeau, the author and publisher of the site.

From 2002-2013 I visited every country in the world and wrote about it on this blog. I’m still traveling to more than 20 countries each year. Along the way I share unconventional strategies and stories on Life, Work, and Travel.